Stoke winger Shea delighted to make debut finally

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By Ben Cullimore

The Potters' new US international winger has said he is happy to be playing again after four months out of action following surgery on his right foot

Stoke City's new signing Brek Shea has said that he is glad to be back playing again following four months on the sidelines after undergoing foot surgery.

The American winger was signed for €2.9 million from MLS side FC Dallas in January and was handed his Potters debut after only 24 minutes of Saturday's 1-0 defeat away to Fulham when Matthew Etherington had to depart after suffering a back problem.

"It's been a long time out and I'm glad to be back," Shea told reporters. "It wasn't the way I wanted to play, or the team, but hopefully we can get better.

"I let the guy get the ball in for the cross, so I should have stopped him on their goal. But I created a penalty and was lucky ... I just have to keep chugging I guess."

Shea looked rusty after such a lengthy time away from first-team football, as well as Saturday being his first proper taste of Premier League football.

However, his efforts almost earned Stoke an equaliser when his cross was handled in the penalty area by Fulham's Ashkan Dejagah, but Jonathan Walters' 55th minute spot kick was saved by Mark Schwarzer.

"I'm not 100 per cent, but I'm getting better and I'm almost there," he continued. "I just have to keep playing and get back into it.

"I don't think I played very well, but it's good to get a taste.

"Every team has their own style and the league here is faster so you just have to get used to it."